In a recent segment on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike” radio show, analyst Evan Cohen made a bold claim about Colorado Buffaloes quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders and his potential impact in Cleveland.
During a discussion about the significance of winning a championship with the Cleveland Browns compared to the New York Giants, Cohen suggested that if Sanders were to lead Cleveland to a Super Bowl, his status in the city could surpass even that of NBA legend LeBron James.
Would Winning in Cleveland Put Shedeur Sanders on LeBron James’ Level?
“If you are the first quarterback to deliver a championship to that franchise,” Chris Canty asked. “Bigger than Lebron,” Cohen said. “Easily.”
If Shedeur Sanders won in Cleveland versus winning with the Giants, @EvCoRadio thinks it’s bigger winning in Cleveland.
Bigger than LeBron James winning in 2016.@ESPNCleveland pic.twitter.com/AEc6u2WWe9
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) March 25, 2025
The comments were met with visual shock from co-host Michelle Smallmon, forcing Cohen to elaborate on the hypothetically perceived significance of such an achievement.
“They would trade the Cavs [Cleveland Cavaliers] championship right now for Shedeur to win a title,” Cohen said. “Because what Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are doing right now, they can see, ‘Oh, we can build this thing back. We can get to the places LeBron got to.’ The Browns have never had that.”
The Browns, holding the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, have been linked to Sanders, the standout quarterback from Colorado. With Miami’s Cam Ward being a heavy favorite to be selected No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans, FanDuel currently has Sanders at +300 to be selected in the subsequent pick, currently held by the Browns in the NFL Draft order.
The franchise has long sought a transformative figure to lead them to a Lombardi trophy, a feat that would undoubtedly elevate any quarterback to legendary status within the city.
Cohen’s comments, however, sound very similar to the hype surrounding former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel after he was drafted by Cleveland in the 2014 NFL Draft. Hopefully, for the Browns’ fans’ sake, it works out better for Sanders than it did for Manziel.
The comparison to James stems from his monumental role in securing the Cavaliers’ first NBA championship in 2016, ending the city’s 52-year major sports title drought. However, the city is still yet to win, or even appear in, a Super Bowl.
As the draft approaches, discussions about Sanders’ potential destinations continue, with analysts debating the implications of him landing with the Giants and the Browns, like this segment was before the hot takes started coming. While New York offers a massive media market, the prospect of revitalizing a storied yet beleaguered franchise like the Browns presents a unique and potentially legacy-defining opportunity for Sanders.
Only time will tell where Sanders will begin his professional career, but it appears that the prospect of him achieving unprecedented success in Cleveland has already ignited passionate discussions.